Hobby vs. Habit — What's the Difference?

Often involves skill or creativity.

A regular, often unconscious behavior.

Usually a voluntary activity.

Can be formed through repetition.

Can be social or individual.

A habit (or wont as a humorous and formal term) is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously.The American Journal of Psychology (1903) defined a "habit, from the standpoint of psychology, [as] a more or less fixed way of thinking, willing, or feeling acquired through previous repetition of a mental experience." Habitual behavior often goes unnoticed in persons exhibiting it, because a person does not need to engage in self-analysis when undertaking routine tasks. Habits are sometimes compulsory.

A hobby is considered to be a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one's leisure time. Hobbies include collecting themed items and objects, engaging in creative and artistic pursuits, playing sports, or pursuing other amusements.

A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up

An activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure

A long, loose garment worn by a member of a religious order

A small horse or pony.

A person's health or constitution

A migratory Old World falcon with long, narrow wings, catching dragonflies and birds on the wing.

Be dressed or clothed

An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.

A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition

Any of several small falcons of the genus Falco, formerly used for catching small birds or game.

An established disposition of the mind or character

An activity that one enjoys doing in one's spare time.

Customary manner or practice

(horses) An extinct breed of horse native to the British Isles, also known as the Irish Hobby

An addiction, especially to a narcotic drug.

Any of four species of small falcons in the genus Falco, especially Falco subbuteo.

Characteristic appearance, form, or manner of growth, especially of a plant or crystal

A small, strong-winged European falcon (Falco subbuteo), formerly trained for hawking.

A distinctive set of clothing or style of dressing, especially of a religious order.

A strong, active horse, of a middle size, said to have been originally from Ireland; an ambling nag.

A riding habit.

A stick, often with the head or figure of a horse, on which boys make believe to ride.

(Archaic) Physical constitution.

A subject or plan upon which one is constantly setting off; a favorite and ever-recurring theme of discourse, thought, or effort; that which occupies one's attention unduly, or to the weariness of others; a ruling passion.

To clothe; dress.

An auxiliary activity

To clothe in a habit, especially a nun's habit.

A child's plaything consisting of an imitation horse mounted on rockers; the child straddles it and pretends to ride

An action performed on a regular basis.

Small Old World falcon formerly trained and flown at small birds

An action performed repeatedly and automatically, usually without awareness.

An activity done for pleasure during leisure time.

A long piece of clothing worn by monks and nuns.

Provides relaxation or enjoyment.

A piece of clothing worn for a specific activity; a uniform.

(archaic) Outward appearance; attire; dress.

Form of growth or general appearance and structure of a variety or species of plant or crystal.

An addiction.

(transitive) To clothe.

To inhabit.

The usual condition or state of a person or thing, either natural or acquired, regarded as something had, possessed, and firmly retained; as, a religious habit; his habit is morose; elms have a spreading habit; esp., physical temperament or constitution; as, a full habit of body.

The general appearance and manner of life of a living organism.

Fixed or established custom; ordinary course of conduct; practice; usage; hence, prominently, the involuntary tendency or aptitude to perform certain actions which is acquired by their frequent repetition; as, habit is second nature; also, peculiar ways of acting; characteristic forms of behavior.

Outward appearance; attire; dress; hence, a garment; esp., a closely fitting garment or dress worn by ladies; as, a riding habit.

The distinctive clothing worn commonly by nuns or monks; as, in the late 1900's many orders of nuns discarded their habits and began to dress as ordinary lay women.

To inhabit.

To dress; to clothe; to array.

To accustom; to habituate.

An established custom;

A pattern of behavior acquired through frequent repetition;

(religion) a distinctive attire (as the costume of a religious order)

Excessive use of drugs

Put a habit on

May be beneficial or detrimental.

Usually individual in nature.

Often difficult to change.

A habit is a regular, often automatic, behavior that one frequently engages in.

No, hobbies can be either social or individual.

Yes, some people turn their hobbies into successful careers.

Yes, if a hobby becomes a regular, almost automatic activity, it could turn into a habit.

Yes, some hobbies require a significant financial investment.

Absolutely, cultural norms often influence what is considered a "good" or "bad" habit.

A hobby is an activity pursued for pleasure, often in one's free time.

Not necessarily, habits often form automatically over time.

Yes, especially if they have been formed over a long period.

They can, especially with conscious effort or lifestyle changes.

Habits are formed through repetition and frequent engagement in a behavior.

Yes, there are good habits like regular exercise that benefit one's well-being.

Hobbies can improve mental health by providing relaxation and pleasure.

That varies by individual and the nature of the hobby.

Many, but not all, hobbies involve some level of creativity or skill.